Kandhula Ayyappa v. The State Of A.P.,Rep.,Pp

THE HON'BLE SRI JUSTICE T.SUNIL CHOWDARY CRIMINAL PETITION No.11410 OF 2015 ORDER:

1 This petition is filed under Section 482 Cr.P.C to quash the proceedings against the petitioners/Accused Nos.1 to 6 in Cr.No.252 of 2015 on the file of J.R.Gudem Police Station, West Godavari District registered for the offences punishable under Section 498-A of IPC and Sections 3 and 4 of Dowry Prohibition Act.

2 Heard the learned counsel for the petitioners and the learned Additional Public Prosecutor representing the State.

3 The petitioners are accused Nos.1 to 6 and the second respondent is the defacto complainant in Cr.No.252 of 2015 on the file of J.R.Gudem Police Station. As per the allegations made in the complaint, the parents of the second respondent gave an amount of Rs.20 lakhs to the first petitioner at the time of marriage towards dowry. It is further alleged that the petitioners herein have subjected the second respondent to cruelty for additional dowry. 4 The contention of the learned counsel for the petitioners is that the allegations made in the complaint do not constitute any offence, much less the offences alleged to have been committed by the petitioners. While disposing of the petition filed under Section 482 Cr.P.C, the Court has to take into consideration the allegations made in the complaint.

The Court is not justified in embarking upon an enquiry to ascertain the truthfulness or otherwise of the allegations made in the complaint. The very purpose of investigation is to ascertain the truthfulness or otherwise of the allegations made in the complaint. The allegations made in the complaint are prima facie sufficient to investigate into the matter.

5 Having regard to the facts and circumstances of the case on hand and also the principle laid down in R.P.Kapoor v. State of Punjab, State of Haryana v. Bhajan Lal, V.Y.Jose v State of Gurajat and Teeja Devi v State of Rajasthan, I am of the considered view that this is not a fit case to quash the proceedings at this stage.

6 The learned counsel for the petitioners submitted that the Station House Officer, J.R.Gudem Police Station may be directed not to arrest the petitioners pending investigation in the crime.

7 Taking into consideration the nature of allegations made in the complaint and in view of the principle laid down by the Hon'ble apex Court in Arnesh Kumar v State of Bihar, the Station House Officer, J.R.Gudem Police Station, West Godavari District, is hereby directed to follow the procedure as contemplated under Section 41 A of Cr.P.C., in Cr.No.252 of 2015, so far as the petitioners, who are accused Nos.1 to 6 are concerned.

8 Accordingly, this criminal petition is dismissed. As a sequel, miscellaneous petitions, pending if any in this Criminal Petition, shall stand closed. ____________________ T. SUNIL CHOWDARY, J Date: 9th November, 2015 Kvsn